Toxic chemicals to avoid in personal care products

On a typical morning routine, even before stepping out of our front door, we have already slathered on our body many toxic chemicals without even realizing it.

Soaps, shower gels, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, body lotions, face creams, makeup, nail polish, perfumes, aftershaves, cologne, sunscreen… the list is long.

Many of us don’t really think about our beauty care products, believing that if it is advertized and sold it must be safe.

It is not. Commercial body care products and makeup are full of preservatives, synthetic fragrances and chemical compounds.

And if we consider that the skin is our biggest organ and if we think of dermal absorption, it comes naturally to care about what we put on it.

Plus, we are applying (or spraying – inhalation exposure) these chemicals on our skin daily, and the repetitive use can clearly lead to an accumulation of toxins in our system.

Most of these chemicals are considered endocrine disruptors, this means they interfere with our hormonal balance (BPA, or bisphenol A, is one of the most famous), in particular reproductive (1) and thyroid health (2).

There are also studies which shows a possible relationship between endocrine disruptors and some chronic conditions, such as obesity (3, 4, 5), IBD (6), and asthma (7)

 

Let’s have a look at the most common ones

 

Phenols

This category includes parabens, triclosan, benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone – commonly found in commercial sunscreens), BHA, BHT and BPA, amongst others.

There are many studies that looked at phenols as a category, which linked them to breast cancer (17,18) and pregnancy issues (19), such as altered reproductive and thyroid hormone levels during gestation (20).

 

Parabens

Widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, parabens interfere with reproduction (10), the nervous (11) and the immune system (12); they have been found in human breast cancer tissue (13, 14, 15, 16) and they are able to disrupt metabolic pathways, contributing to adipogenesis (8) and obesity (9).

Some of them have been banned by the European Commission, but many are still in our products.

 

Triclosan

Based on an extensive peer-reviewed research, more than 200 scientists and medical professionals agreed that triclosan (and triclocarban) is an environmentally persistent endocrine disruptor and can bioaccumulate (21)

One of the most commonly used antibacterial agents, triclosan may also increase the risk of asthma in children (22), allergies and food sensitivities (23)
These compounds are antimicrobial, so they also may have a negative impact on our microbiome.

 

Sodium lauryl sulfates (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)

These chemicals are commonly found in soaps, toothpaste, shampoos and foaming products, and are often corrosive and irritate the skin (24, 25).

One study at the University of Japan showed that they can also stimulate free radicals production (26), and another one showed their impact on DNA synthesis (27)

 

Phthalates

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in many personal care products, such as nail polish, hair sprays, aftershave lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes and other fragrance preparations.

There are many studies that show the potential impact these chemicals can have on our health, in particular on ovary health (28) and early onset of menopause (29), liver function and cardiovascular health (30), allergies, asthma and immune functions (31)

High levels of phthalates in cosmetics products have also raised concerns for sales assistants, who are exposed to them daily for a prolonged period of time (32).

In a study that looked at skin wipes, the researchers found the palm of the hand to be the highest point for dermal absorption, and they concluded that washing hands with soap and water was able to reduce phthalates absorption by 50% (33); if we consider that usually people use skin wipes when washing facilities are not available, it is easy to understand the high risk of exposure.

 

Fragrance (or parfum)

Most fragrances are synthetic chemicals. Many studies have shown that repeated exposure can affect the nervous system, causing also anxiety and depression (34, 35)

 

Mineral oil

A petroleum-based ingredient commonly found in skin care products and in plastic. Being a derivative of crude oil, it contains hydrocarbons which have the potential to be dangerous for our health.

Baby oil is 100 percent mineral oil.

Many studies show the consequences of exposure, such as an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines and autoimmunity, the so-called Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvant – by mineral oil (ASIA-MO) (36, 37).

Cosmetic body modelling can also become dangerous, since mineral oil is one of the most common injected substances, and it can lead to ulceration, disfigurement and even death (38).

Concerns have also been raised for mineral oil content and absorption risk in lipsticks, since here we are talking ingestion as well (39).

 

PEGs (Polyethylene glycols)

Another petroleum-based class of ethylene glycol polymers that tickens, moisturizes and stabilizes, commonly found in cream-based cosmetics, laxatives and oven cleansers amongst others.

PEGs are normally followed by a number corresponding to how many units of ethylene glycol they contain; the lower the number, the more easily they are absorbed into the skin.

While PEGs can be mild irritants, they are not desirable primarily because they act as penetration enhancers for other harmful ingredients, which will be absorbed more easily through the skin.

Depending on manufacturing processes, PEGs are often contaminated with ethylene oxide (used to make mustard gas) and 1,4-dioxane (40).

Ethylene oxide is a known human carcinogen, potentially harmful also to the nervous system (41), and 1,4-dioxane is a possible human carcinogen and it is persistent in the environment, which means it does not degrade easily.

 

Formaldehyde releasing preservatives (FRPs)

FRPs are used in many personal care products,such as nail polish and glue, eyelash glue, body wash, hair gels, shampoo.

These ingredients are of concern because they slowly and continuously release small amounts of formaldehyde (48), which the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies as a known human carcinogen (42)

Many studies have shown the link between formaldehyde exposure and cancer (43, 44), with most of the research focusing on risks from inhalation.

It can also be absorbed through the skin and cause allergic reactions and dermatitis (45, 46)

A 2015 study determined that longer storage time and higher temperature increase the amount of formaldehyde released from FRPs and could ultimately lead to more severe health concerns (*48)

The European Union mandates that formaldehyde-releasing preservatives in cosmetics be labeled as such if they exceed .05%. Other countries regulations are more relaxed, so be careful to avoid the following:

Formaldehyde, quaternium-15 (one of the most sensitizing, used in mascara, eyeliners lotion and shampoo – 49), DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, bromopol and glyoxal, methenamine

 

Heavy metals

Heavy metals are ubiquitous in cosmetics, and the bioaccumulation beyond healthy levels through regular use is disturbing (50, 51). Take lead for example, which we can find through contamination in lipsticks, foundations and whitening toothpaste.

Lead is a proven neurotoxin (52), also linked to issues in pregnancy (53) and miscarriage (54).

 

Ethanolamine Compounds (MEA, DEA, TEA and others)

Triethanolamine (TEA), Diethanolamine (DEA), and Monoethanolamine (MEA) are amino alcohols used in cosmetic formulations as emulsifiers, thickeners, detergents, and alkalizing agents. They are often found in products that foam, such as bubble baths, body washes and shampoos.

They have been linked to liver cancer (55, 56, 57) and the European Commission has prohibited diethanolamine (DEA) in cosmetics, to reduce contamination from carcinogenic nitrosamines.

 

FD&C color pigments

They may seem harmless, but the reality is that absorption of these colorants can damage the skin, deplete the body of oxygen, and in extreme cases, lead to death. The majority of these pigments are made from coal tar – a substance known to cause cancer in laboratory animals – and can be contaminated with heavy metals.

 

Isopropyl alcohol

Almost ubiquitous in cosmetics, this petroleum-derived substance is the same chemical used in antifreeze and as a solvent in shellac.

Both inhalation and ingestion are dangerous – leading to dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and, in extreme cases, to coma.

 

Siloxanes (or cyclomethicone)

These are a group of chemicals derived from silicone, and they are widely used in cosmetics to soften, smooth, and moisten.

They have the ability to accumulate, and a high degradability and toxicitylevel (58).

They are considered endocrine disruptors and toxic to the reproductive system.

 

Being worth billions of pounds as it is, the beauty industry is not going to make transparency a priority, so it is up to us to educate ourselves.

 

What can we do to limit our exposure to these toxins?

 

• Always read the ingredients list. Do they sound familiar to you? Are there any numbers? Is there anything you wouldn’t eat? Don’t put it on your skin then 🙂

• Be aware when buying online; products could be made in countries where regulations might be different and more relaxed.

• Make the switch today and choose only natural products.

• Use less! Have a look at your bathroom cabinet… do you really need all these bottles and lotions? Aim to have few good ones rather than many toxic ones. Invest in good quality chemicals-free products and throw away all the rest.

• Start to make your own! Using ingredients like cold pressed oils, butters and essential oils you can create the most amazing soaps and blends for your skin. The web is full of recipes and ideas; make sure to check the source of your ingredients and choose organic when possible.

 

 

 

 

 

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